Dragan Primorac Minister of Science, Education and Sports In 2003, Dr. Dragan Primorac was appointed as Minister of Science, Education and Sports of Croatia. With a strong academic and professional background in medicine, Minister Primorac has been highly rewarded for his contributions in research and development, particularly in the field of forensic sciences and genetics. In 1998 he received the Homeland War Recognition for his contribution in the identification of war victims by DNA technology. Born in 1965, Mr. Primorac earned a medical degree from the University of Zagreb in Croatia and a doctoral degree from this university and the University of Connecticut. He is the author of numerous scientific publications.

Education as a Key to Sustainable Development and the Prosperity of Every Individual

The world has taken a step towards the 21St century with the optimism of the development of new technologies and scientific achievements that have, like never before in history, brought us closer to each other and enabled access to every part of the planet. However, one might ask whether the humanity has met the challenge of new social relations and thus given hope for the future to new generations.

We, the Ministers of Education of the UNESCO Member States, are aware of the responsibility for the future development and prosperity of humankind. Every one of us is undertaking efforts, both on the national level and in the international dialogue, to contribute to common values and aims that the contemporary world has set for itself. At the same time we have to ask ourselves to what extent the general goals of sustainable development contribute to the quality of life of every individual as a member of the community.

We are invited to answer this question and to ensure by our efforts that the education system in every single country can open a perspective to young people and enable their personal prosperity, but also the prosperity of the community to which they belong. The task is neither easy, nor unattainable. Quality education for all is a challenge and an answer at the same time.

The 47th Session of the UNESCO's International Conference on Education has set as priority areas equal access to education, the inclusion of vulnerable groups and the challenge of lifelong learning in the dynamical process of change on the labor market, counting also on the inevitable key role of teachers. The educational dimension and common values transmitted in the process of acquiring knowledge and skills by the teachers onto the young generations are a pledge of the future sustainable development.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia has recognized education and science as key priorities of its policy. In spite of numerous challenges brought by the transition and by unfortunate events of the past decade, in the Republic of Croatia education and science have always been considered a driving force for the society in all its segments. I want to emphasize that, through the implemented reforms in the Croatian education system, we have for the first time achieved the complete vertical of the education system, and the adjustment of higher education to the Bologna Process is fully under way.

Today the Republic of Croatia has the status of a Candidate Country for the full membership of the EU and takes an active part in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports is trying to give its highest contribution to the implementation of such policy bearing in mind the fact that quality education is a priority in the development of human resources without which there is no prerequisite for economic and social progress.

We all have to join our constant efforts in the modernization of school curricula, in continuous teacher training, through further introduction of information and communication technologies and through the setting of clear standards for the evaluation of the quality of education system on all levels.

We believe that through such approach the Croatian education system contributes to the overall development not only on the national level, but it also becomes a part of intensive international educational co-operation. At this point the National Program of Education for Human Rights and Democratic Citizenship, educational programs in the language and script of national minorities, as well as the measures of further development of education for children with special needs in the conditions of educational integration, have to be mentioned as a contribution to a changed environment in the learning and teaching process.

As the Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Sports, and as a scientist by vocation, I believe in the attainability of the assigned priorities of educational policy and in an equal common contribution to the global development of humankind.